Are some people, dissatisfied with current capitalist society in Britain searching for alternative spiritualities?

Are some people, dissatisfied with current capitalist society in Britain searching for alternative spiritualities? How often does this search accidentally or intentionally manifest in self destructive behaviours? A case study into a corporate office.

Capitalism's ability to survive by endogenizing some of its criticisms and morphing new 'spirits' of justification are issues that require attention. I intend to investigate whether people working in a communications 'giant' head office, some of whom often engage with self-destructive behaviours do so because they are searching for 'more' from life than the spirit of capitalism (Weber, 1930) provides. I want to explore participants reactions to and feelings toward the 'capitalist spirit', namely the idea that acquisition of material goods and wealth is in some way an ultimate purpose and 'transcendental' (Weber, 1930). I plan to examine individual's pursuit (if any) of other spiritualities and unearth whether they are engaged with as an alternative to or rejection of capitalism's spirit. Similarly, I hope to investigate whether self-destructive behaviours are pursued as alternative spiritualities to that of capitalism or perhaps whether they are engaged with as coping mechanisms to a dissatisfaction with contemporary society arrangements. A case study design frame will be used incorporating ethnographic elements and biographical interviews based on the work of Merrill and West (2009). I will spend some time in the corporate office talking to people, immersing myself within the culture and creating observation logs. Participants (20-30 employees) will then be interviewed and verbatim transcripts created. Data (logs and transcripts) will be coded and analysed using an established proforma created by Merrill and West (2009).